Google Changes Could Mean Fewer Search Results

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If you use Google Shopping to find and compare items you'd like
to buy, you could find fewer results in future searches. Google
said today (Jan. 3) it would allow website owners to block their
pages from specialized search results in a response to concerns
from the Federal Trade Commission.

Google has been under investigation by the FTC for the past nine
months for possibly violating antitrust laws by
manipulating search
results to its own benefit. The FTC found that, while
Google did not violate antitrust laws, it may have stifled its
competitors. The FTC has closed the case, and Google has
volunteered to change several of its practices the commission
felt were unfair to others.

But what may be fair to websites could turn into a headache for
regular folks looking for a good deal on a pair of skis, a hotel
in Aspen or simply a place to grab a sandwich for lunch.

Google agreed to let Web page owners opt out of Google's
specialized search products, such as local, travel and shopping,
while still appearing in standard Google Search. Previously, they
could only opt out of Google Search.

The change comes from the FTC's request to Google to refrain from
"misappropriating online content" from websites like shopping and
travel for use in Google's own specialized searches. The
commissioners concern: If Google can act as a hub for certain
services, and websites have no way to opt out, site creators (and
their funding sources) might have little incentive to launch a
new site in the face of Google's dominance.

For instance, a hotel-review website may not want
its reviews
posted on a Google travel page because it fears that people
who use Google's travel search would have no reason to visit the
original site. However, some websites gain traffic from their
inclusion in Google services. In the future, the decision will be
left up to the site owner whether or not to be included in search
results.

Google also agreed to allow advertisers to use
data from their Google Adwords campaigns for
running ads on other services. Google will also loosen its hold
on certain patents. It will license patents that are considered
standard for mobile device software development, while following
new FTC rules for resolving patent disputes before filing
lawsuits.